The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Thursday, December 12, 2013

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appointed Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz of the clergy of Scranton, U.S.A., as
bishop of Jackson (area 97,495, population 2,203,000, Catholics
52,500, priests 80, permanent deacons 4, religious 197), U.S.A. The
bishop-elect was born in Dunmore, U.S.A. in 1950 and was ordained a
priest in 1977. He holds a degree in history from the University of
Scranton, a masters degree in Latin from the Fordham University, New
York, a masters degree in counselling and psychology and a doctorate
in human development from the Marywood University in Scranton. He has
served in a number of pastoral roles, including: vicar of parishes in
Brodheadsville and Sayre; parish administrator of “St. Patrick
Parish”, Nicholson; lecturer and subsequently director of formation
at the Saint Pius X seminary, Dalton; priest in numerous parishes in
Jessop and Scranton, and vicar general for the clergy. Since 2006 he
has been priest of “Most Holy Trinity” parish, Mount Pocono, and
is also a member of the diocesan council for finances and
co-ordinator of the Hispanic apostolate for Monroe County. He
succeeds Bishop Joseph N. Latino, whose resignation from the pastoral
care of the same diocese, upon having reached the age limit, was
accepted by the Holy Father.

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appointed Msgr. Michael J. Sis of the clergy of Austin, U.S.A., as
bishop of San Angelo (area 96,951, population 619,000, Catholics
85,500, priests 57, permanent deacons 81, religious 39), U.S.A. The
bishop-elect was born in Mount Holly, U.S.A. in 1960 and was ordained
a priest in 1986. He studied theology at the Gregorian Pontifical
University and the Pontifical North American College in Rome, and
holds a licentiate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy of
the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome. He has served in the
following pastoral roles: vicar of the “Cristo Rey” parish and
St. Mary cathedral in Austin; vice-chaplain and subsequently
university chaplain of the St. Mary's Centre of the Texas A & M
University, College Station; director of vocations, and parish priest
of “St. Thomas More” parish in Austin. Since 2010 he has served
as vicar general and moderator of the Curia, and was named Chaplain
of His Holiness in 2009. He succeeds Bishop Michael D. Pfeiffer
O.M.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese,
upon having reached the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.

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appointed Msgr. Francis Bestion as bishop of Tulle (area 5,896,
population 244,300, Catholics 221,400, priests 62, permanent deacons
10, religious 59), France. The bishop-elect was born in Fontans,
France in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a degree
in philosophy from the University of Montpelier, and following
theological studies at the seminary of Avignon, he obtained a
canonical licentiate in theology from the Institut Catholique of
Toulouse. He has served in the following pastoral roles: vicar and
subsequently parish priest in Langogne; teacher of philosophy and
formator in the seminary of Avignon and teacher in the seminary of
Toulouse. He has served as vicar general of Mende since 2009. He
succeeds Bishop Bernard Charrier, whose resignation from the pastoral
care of the same diocese, upon having reached the age limit, was
accepted by the Holy Father.